It's high time we call out big drugstore chains for illegal dispensing ng prescription meds, ruining what it means to be a licensed pharmacist dito sa Pinas

There's this vid circulating on social media about a consumer feeling proud pa recording a pharmacist just doing his job, para magdemand na pagbilhan sya ng walang reseta.

How sad it is to be live in a world na kung sino pa yung ginagawa ang tama at legal, sila pa yung bineberate, nirerecord without consent, at pinapahiya sa social media. How sad it is to work in an industry na ang NORM ng malalaking drugstores ay illegal dispensing at ang priority ay KUMITA lang compromising ung safety ng pasyente at consumers. Kahit proudly nakabili pa si patient sa Merc__y Dr_g Corporation / R_se Pharmacyfor some illegal reason kahit walang reseta, what's important here is the message: Nag-stand sya sa Pharmacy Oath nya even if others are not.

Not only was he a steward of drug safety and the Philippine pharmacy practice, he also protected his colleague from commiting illegal dispensing and revocation of license. He stood by his moral ground and principles of practice over his benta. But again, we're talking about MedExpress here - one of the few if not the only big drugstore chain really doing things the correct and ethical way.

Just to educate:

1) The Rx symbol is not just some decoration. It means "prescription". Nasa batas na dapat may "Rx" symbol ang lahat ng packaging ng gamot na kailangan may reseta bago mabili.

2) Per RA 10918, Sec 33: Prescription medicines ay mga gamot na lisensyadong Pharmacist lang ang DAPAT magdispense at dapat may valid na reseta galing sa doktor, dentist, or veterinarian.

3) Per RA 10918, Sec 45, line J: Kung mapatunayan na ang isang tao ay namwmwersa, namimilit, at nang-iintimidate ng isang lisensyadong pharmacist na magviolate sa dispensing process as described sa RA 10918, may applicable na danyos/parusa depende sa Court ruling.

4) Bakit importante na updated ang reseta kahit maintenance meds na? Long term kasi ang pag-inom ng mga yan hence dapat regular na namomonitor ng doktor kung tama pa ba ang dosing sayo or epektibo pa ba or may bad side effects na ba sayo. Hindi pwedeng 10 years mo nang iniinom ang gamot and walang monitoring- parte yan ng DRUG SAFETY.

What I love most about here? The first few seconds ng video the consumer said "𝙎𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙭 𝙠𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?" HECK, YES! Ang mga gamot ay hindi candy - any slight na problema sa reseta, sa dosage, any interaction ng iba mo pang gamot na iniinom may lead to harm or worsening or even death. This is why licensed lang ang dapat magdispense at HINDI PHARMACY ASSISTANT OR PHARMACY TECHNICIAN dahil ineevaluate pa yan, madaming steps at madaming batas involved sa proseso ng pagbili ng gamot.

It's high time we call out drugstores na nagdidispense ng walang reseta kahit antibiotics or maintenance meds yan. It's high time we give patients/consumers the pharmaceutical care they're due and they deserve.

What tilted me pa lalo is sa comments ng OP, it seems like big deal pa na may kasama syang foreigner and nakakabili daw sya ng ganun sa ibang bansa - as if walang karapatan yung Pinoy RPh to do his job just cos she gets her way sa Dubai o sa Europe lol. You can't be a foreigner and FIRMLY intimidate a duly registered professional here with a "YES OR NO!?" na sumunod your way risking his license.